Fan kicked off stage by the Story So Far singer speaks out

The fan booted off stage during the Story So Far’s set in Toronto has opened up about the incident.

Becca Ilic says she’s the woman being kicked off stage by frontman Parker Cannon in a video that has since gone viral. “I was at the show, got up onstage and tried to take a stupid Snapchat video of me jumping into the crowd,” she said in an Instagram post. “I was drunk and my phone wasn’t working properly to load the app, so I stood up there longer than I had anticipated. As expected at all hardcore shows, Parker was going with the flow and just hyping up the crowd so he kicked me offstage.”

The 21-year-old music fan from Toronto says despite the incident, she has no hard feelings toward the band and wants to set the record straight.

“It was all in good fun in my opinion, and it wasn’t even a hard kick, just like a push or nudge,” she says in an email correspondence with AP. “I know that I shouldn’t have been up there for that long of time—especially with my phone—but I’m not hurt, and I don’t have any malicious feelings toward the band whatsoever. I laughed when I fell into the crowd and I kept rocking out. I still love Parker Cannon, the Story So Far, their music, their shows, everything more than ever. I understand what could happen at hardcore shows, and, honestly, I have been seriously injured before at different shows by the crowd, but I wasn’t injured by Parker! I just want to set the record straight that I’m fine and I hope this doesn’t change anyone’s opinion on the band, because it shouldn’t! I can’t wait to be at their next show, only I’ll cool it with the Snapchats!”

According to CBC News in Toronto, the venue wasn’t so forgiving. Mod Club manager Jorge Dias told CBC he’s never seen anything like this in the venue’s 14 years of operation. They’ve banned the Story So Far from the venue. “We are appalled by the actions of the singer,” he said in an e-mail. “That was a very cowardly act.”

Ilic, who is no stranger to rock shows, says she also saw the band in November.

“I was in the pit (obviously), and I got a piercing accidentally ripped out, and I got a concussion from everyone jumping on my head,” she tells AP via email. “I’ve had a bloody/bruised nose several times and been punched in the face and hair pulled. All accidental, of course, but it’s rough, and I believe that it’s part of it all the rock/mosh pit scene, regardless of rock genre.”

Ilic says next time she’ll put her phone away and jump offstage faster. What does she think others can learn from this incident?

“Just know what you’re getting into,”

she says.

“Prepare to be roughed up—by the crowd, at least. And don’t overstay your welcome on stage like I unintentionally did. And no stage selfies!”